Politics fueled a $161 million economic engine in Colorado in 2008 as record amounts of money flowed into ballot initiatives, congressional races and state legislative battles.

Don't expect the pace to drop off in two years, analysts said. The nation once again is expected to turn its attention and money to Colorado and an open U.S. Senate seat.

"I wish I could tell your readers that it is all over and in 2010, they'll have a respite on the airwaves. But I doubt it," said Robert Duffy, chairman of the political science department at Colorado State University.

With Sen. Ken Salazar's nomination as Secretary of Interior, prominent Republicans and Democrats are lining up to succeed him.

A Rocky Mountain News review of state and federal campaign finance filings showed this year was one for the books.

The race for an open U.S. Senate seat set a fundraising record, as did the race for an open congressional seat in Boulder.

The state has never seen as much money spent on ballot issues as this past year. Even some of the state legislative races, lost in the frenzy of presidential politics, attracted big money.

The result, Duffy said, was nonstop political ads on television between late August and November.

Denver's 7, the local ABC affiliate, even started broadcasting 15-second "political ad breaks" showing mountain scenes and other idyllic settings.

Duffy said 2010 could be more of the same. Not only is there an open Senate seat, but both parties will spend lots on the 4th District congressional seat.

Democrat Betsy Markey won the traditionally Republican seat from incumbent Marilyn Musgrave, but she'll face plenty of competition next time. Already one Republican candidate has stepped forward to challenge her in 2010.

"If the state economy is in the toilet and the nation doesn't look like it's going much better, then we'll be in a situation where a lot of money is again flowing into Colorado," Duffy said.